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Nexus 7 integrated into a Dodge Ram

A car modifier and Android enthusiast has taken his new Nexus 7 and created a great in-dash holder for his 2008 Dodge Ram, and also linked up the charger and audio output.

As said in the video, many iPad installs have been done on vehicles, but the Nexus 7 is a cheaper (and we think better) alternative for in-car navigation and media.

So why bother doing this? Well, for starters, the Nexus 7 is great for media. The music application with its sleek cover flow would give an unprecedented experience if you like to enjoy your music while driving. You also get to use Google Maps, which has a navigation feature built in. You would need to acquire mapping for your area beforehand, though. Alternatively, just switch to a navigation application that uses OpenStreetMaps, such as MapFactor Navigator. This is a great app I have used abroad, and I thoroughly endorse it. Both the cover flow and maps are shown in the video below.

The Audison Bit One device which redistributes audio.

The audio output from the Nexus 7’s headphone jack goes into an Audison Bit One audio controller. You can play with an equaliser on the Audison device, or download an app to do it on the Nexus 7 (also shown in the video). The Audison device then pipes out the audio to all of the speakers in the Dodge Ram.

Back in March, I posted an article on an OEM Android car stereo from Clarion. Their system was a low-end Android device tailored for music, navigation and a couple of games, though. This “bay for Nexus 7” idea for the Dodge Ram allows you to use your Nexus 7 at the office, then pop it into its holder and enjoy music/podcasts on the way home with a touchscreen interface.

Obviously not everyone (very, very few in fact) will want to gouge out part of their dashboard, and a lot of cars don’t even have room for something like this. Still, it’s a step towards the right direction. Android tablets might come integrated in cars in the future.

As always here is the original video, showing how the Nexus 7 fits in the Dodge Ram and what it is used for. Enjoy!